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Hello, yes it has been a long time since I have posted on here, a very long time, Sorry? well since that is out of the way, I thought what else but the glitz and glamour of the Oscars to ease myself back into this by giving my predictions on who I want to win and because my opinion is kinda irrelevant I am going to say who might actually win.

Original Screenplay is filled with great movies, I think this is a tough one to predict as they are strong contenders, inside out was a great piece of work from pixar, this showed everyone that they can still produce high end family fun films but I don’t think the academy will give this to an animation. The others are all neck and neck with each other in quality wise as they are all well written.

I want the winner to be Ex Machina (as it has one of my favourite films of last year) , as this low budget sci-fi knocked it out of the park, with performances, the directing and importantly the writing, as I think the film would of fallen flat if not for a well written screenplay, this is always in my opinion the underdog but who doesn’t love an underdog

As me trying to think like the academy I am going to say they will pick the Bridge Of Spies, as this is something they would normally favour as it is a Steven Spielberg film and stars a wholesome star in Tom Hanks, this is like a safe bet for them. (hopefully they are wrong and pick Ex Machina, not bias here I promise, or turn everything on its head maybe they could pick Straight Outta Compton to seem more diverse)

Winner- Bridge Of Spies

Writing- Adapted Screenplay

Nominations-The Big Short- Room (not THE room, that is a totally different film)- Brooklyn- Carol- The Martian

Here again is filled with great films, I am going to be honest I have not seen Brooklyn and Carol but I have heard good things about them but for the purpose of these predictions i am going to say it is a three horse race between The Big Short, which was a non-fiction book adapted to become a film about the housing crisis. Room which is about a young mother and her son living in what is basically a shed (I am not doing the film any justice with that explanation, I don’t want to spoil anything) this adapted form a book of the same name. Then The Martian again adapted from a book of the same name, is castaway meets Apollo 13 but without Tom Hanks.

Lucky for me both who I want and who I think will intertwine here because I think Room will win, as far as I know it stays close to the original material. the screenplay I think had to be good as for part of the film it is just the mother and son inside a shed, without out a great screenplay this part of the film would of bored the audience but it grips you with how they both cope with day to day life.

First I am going to say that Ex Machina is not going to win this one, as the other films are far better visual effects wise. It is tough to call with this one as the films use their big budgets with great effect, first The Martian effects made you feel in was Mars and that everything Matt Damon character did was life and death. While The Revenant bear scene was just brutal (there are more Visual Effects it is just my favourite one). Then there is Mad Max the craziness that the savage wasteland look so brutal yet so good at the same time. Then Star Wars, anyone that knows me knows I love Star Wars, the Visual Effects I am glad to say was way better than 1 to 3.

Of course I want to see Star Wars win the Oscar!

Mind over heart, I have to give this one too Mad Max as everything just looked crazy and brilliantly awesome at the sometime.

So this is tough for me not just because I haven’t seen or heard of any of these short films, it is also because I don’t have a clue where to watch them, so this is just going to be guessing work now guys I am going to go with stutter because the poster has a look of the social network about it and I liked that film so that’s my logic.

Short Film (Animation)

Nominations- Bear Story- Prologue- Sanjay’s Super Team- We Can’t Live Without Cosmos- World Of Tomorrow

Again not heard or seen any of these but everyone there is one called Sanjay’s Super Team which sounds right up my street!

This is going to be hard fought as I think the films nominated did a great job with production design The Danish Girl did look and feel like it was in Copenhagen 1926. Then the revenant did the same but I think they did a better job at showing the harsh environment and what it takes to survive (poor horse). The Production on The Martian was great, it felt and what could be a realistic ways to survive on Mars if it ever happened, from NASA to the lonely terrain of Mars everything was believable. from believable to the land of the crazies Mad Max everything with the production was spot on to make this as good as it was going to be, with great chases and fight scenes, it was done beautifully.

I would like to see Mad Max win this one.

I think the Oscar would go to the revenant in this close battle for this Oscar, just for effort everybody behind and in front of the camera to make this happen.

Winner- The Revenant

Music (Original song)

Nominations- “Earned It” fifty shades of grey- “Manta Ray” from Racing Extinction- “Simple Song #3” from Youth- “Til It Happens To You” Hunting Grounds- “Writing’s On The Wall” from Spectre.

This one is tricky for me as I have only heard The weekends Earned it and Sam Smiths bond song, so like before to be fair I have to pick between them (As it is only fair) so since Bond has a better reputation then Fifty Shades, I am going to go with Sam Smith.

You can say this is bias but it was to be Star Wars? John Williams? when that score kicks in the hairs on the back of my neck didn’t know what the hell hit them, it was amazing. I do have to say the other films, have great scores I just it is hard to compete with Stars Wars here and I think and hope the voting body of the Oscars agree with me.

Winner- Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Hair And Makeup

Nominations- Mad Max: Fury Road- The Revenant- The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out Of The Window And Disappeared

First I don’t have a clue what The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out Of The Window And Disappeared (or hardcore fans call it THYOWCOOTWAD) is? I have not heard of it so it would unfair to judge it. On the other hand I think it would be hard to compete with these heavy hitters, Mad Max hair and makeup just looked like they just a good time because everyone looks great (well for wasteland standards). Then the Revenant again continues to be the favourite for many of the awards, I think it is on par with Mad Max but because of the more realistic tone I think it could take the gold.

I personally enjoy the editing style of The Big Short, that could just be my personal taste, yet the action sequences in Mad Max, was pulse rising. Then on the other hand The Revenant seems more hands on and that you are with and struggling with the character.

I would like this award go to Hank Corwin and The Big Short

Yet I think the award will be handed out Stephan Mirrione for The Revenant

Winner – The Revenant

Documentary Short

Nominations- Body Team 12- Chau, Beyond The Lines- Claude Lanzmann: Spectres Of The Shoah- A Girl In A River: The Price Of Forgiveness- Last Day Of Freedom

Again I am struggling because I have not seen or again heard of any of these (that makes me sound terrible believe I am not that bad, at time) so again logically guessing hear.

There is only one of these Documentaries I have seen and to be honest the one I have seen would be hard to top, I am talking about Amy. The documentary shows how bad it was for and the people around her, it makes you feel for Amy Winehouse and what talent she had.

First off I just have to say what a journey Adam McKay, before The Big Short, the last film he directed was the Anchorman squeal, for his first venture out of the comedy genre (that I know of) he gets an Oscar nod, well played. I thought Room was a great film with a kinda unknown director at the helm with Lenny (he did direct a film called frank which I really enjoyed, worth a watch at least) he really showed off his talent and this is a gateway for him to go and do better things, I think if another director was in charge it might not have been as good. George Miller made the best action film of this year, or even one of the best in the last decade, the way did the case scenes and the action was fantastic, a worthy nod for him. Tom McCarthy has more acting credits than directing ones, similar the McKay the last film he came off directing was The Cobbler, which is an Adam Sandlar (do I have to say more?) so coming from that to a very serious film with the way he did is great. Inarritu is looking to make two in the row and he has to be favourite do so, The Revenant is not short a masterpiece, the way he filmed the Indians attacking at the beginning of the film to brutal and dramatic finish, he really nails the need to survive and the quest of vengeance. I am very surprised not to see Ridley Scott among the nominations for The Martian, I think that is one of the big snubs

Like I said earlier The Danish Girl did a fantastic job of really looking the part, while I cant say much about Cinderella as I have not seen it, same can be said about Carol but if I go off what the trailer has showed me it looks great. As many of these awards it seems to be Mad Max and The Revenant going head to head.

This time I think Mad Max will come out victorious and the academy while think the same.

First thing I have to say is that all these films look great, so well done to the cinematographers on these films, I don’t know who you are but great jobs. It is hard to look past Mad Max and The Revenant for this to, yet with an outside bet could be The Hateful Eight.

Winner The Revenant (This might be two in a row for the cinematographer who worked with Inarritu last year for Birdman? don’t quote me that)

Animated Feature Film

Nominations-Anomalisa- Boy and The World- Inside Out- Shaun The Sheep Movie- When Marnie Was Here

I am going to be honest I think this is just going to be two horse race between, Anomalia (which I have heard amazing things about) and Inside Out, as you know this is pixar at their very best.

This is a tough, every actress competing here are very talented, it is great to see Rachel McAdams break from a typecast of just a lead in a rom-com. Kate Winslet again gives a great performance in Steve Jobs but I think the stand out one for me has to Alica Vikander, what a year she has had playing Ava in Ex Machina and then a stand performance Gerda in the Danish Girl.

I would love to see Alica take home the gold.

I think the academy are going to disagree and send home Kate Winslet as the winner.

Well, this is just so much talent, Christian Bale is fantastic as the one eyed, and shoes wearing, heavy music listening numbers guy who goes against the banks and housing industry of america. Tom Hardy is cast in the prefect role to be the opposite of the main character, this sly mean man Tom Hardy nails it performance wise, this is great consultation for not getting it for mad max. Slyvester Stallone, showing he can act with the role he was born to play, it is great to see Rocky back on the silver screen and this time not fighting, he has perfect chemistry with his co-starts and director (it is a real shame Creed got over looked so much). One thing I have to say I am gutted to see Idris Elba get snubbed, he was great in Beast Of No Nations, I am not sure they looked down on it cuase it was released on netflix, I am sorry Mark Rylance, I think Idris should have your spot.(this is just opinion, I am not saying he is bad, just someone was better than him).

I think Slyvester should win this as I thought he was believable and honest an performance.

I have not seen Charlotte Rampling in the 45 years, I am sure she is great but I not sure I can take her into account. Jennifer Lawrence is back in the gold case which seem to be an annual thing for her, I have heard she is great in Joy and could be one of the favourites. Lucky I am not reading this because I won’t have a clue how to pronounce Saoirse, I have great things of her in Brooklyn but I have not yet manage to watch her. Brie Larson really had the chance to show off her acting ability here, she nailed it, how she was with young star Jacob Tremblay was believable as the caring mother doing the best for her child and protecting him form what is happening

I really hope Brie walks away the winner.

Yet the academy might just go with the powerhouse that is Jennifer Lawrence.

What a heavyweight clash this is. first off one thing I have to say is the Eddie Redmayne had great connection on screen with Alica Vikander without them two performances The Danish Girl would of just been mah, so almost deserves it just by helping carrying the film. talking about carrying the film Matt Demon hit this out of the park, as the charming and lovable astronaut stuck on Mars, without his performance being as good as it was we not of cared as much as we did, hoping if he was going to makes it back or even survive. Michael Fessbender has been given a lot of praise over the true why he played Steve Jobs as an egoistical power hungry man that was not as nice as people think, it was nothing like the very watered down version that ashton kucher played a while back. Bryan Cranston as Dalton Trumbo seems like the perfect casting move, as the screen writer that got hounded for his political beliefs, seeing this talented man get treated the way he did because his beliefs, Cranston made the best of the script showing off his wide range of acting skills very comedic lines to the dramatic monologues. Next is the man almost every body wants to win and that is Leo, he has been overlooked many a times over the years, now he is making them take notice (with the best acting crawling I have ever seen) Leonardo showcases the need and struggle to survive the harsh environment just to get vengeance, the stuff he did just to make this as authentic as possible is crazy, now the academy must take notice. We don’t want another Peter O’Toole on your hands.

I think the overall winner is going DiCaprio (maybe about time for him)

Last but not least, best picture, I would love to see most of these films take away the award as I am a fan of them all, if you take everything into account some overall are better than overs for example the design and sound of the revenant are better than Brooklyn, then you could argue they are totally different films, it could just keep going back and forth, how I am going to do it is take everything into account, to see what the best would be. Now this is just my opinion, what the hell do I know I am just a fan of film properly given out rubbish thoughts. I do think all the films nominated do deserve to be there and have a great chance of winning.

Winner- The Revenant

That ends my prediction, as you can properly tell I am most likely going to be wrong a lot but hey that’s part of the fun, or I could turn around and have them all right which would be great!

If you want to see or hear more of my ideas (why wouldn’t you?) then follow me twitter @cjgreen7 to see if I was right when the time comes, thanks for reading, maybe I will catch you again sometime, Bye.

This is my first blog post for a long time! ( well in fact the first one this year) it has been a crazy end of the year!

The end of the year saw me finish and pass my long awaited apprenticeship (which I think I passed with flying colours) I have to say the modules was hard at times (even though I did lie my way through it for the best part) I am glad to say that my hard work did pay off, I did have great support form everyone at Cyfle ( that’s the company I did my apprenticeship with by the way)

With the end of the modules and the crying meant that my time at the company I was with had to end too! I had an amazing time at Orchard! Yes I was gutted I had to leave but hey that what happens, they gave me a great foothold that can help further myself in this career choice, the experience I have gained was just nothing I though would happen! (Please check my other post for more in depth detail… I am saying that just because I could do with more views…we have all been there… I think) I would like to thank everyone there at Orchard for a great time.

Now every has settled down, I am now testing the waters and trying to catch a media job that I worked hard to try and get, this is not as easy as I thought! (Well it wasn’t going to be easy anyway) I am asking around for work experience to help advance my chances (So hopefully this will)

We will see what the future holds! I may have to take a break for media just to make a little bit of money? I can accept that! Saying that I do have a ton load of ideas I want write down and try to make (maybe the idea list maybe a whole different post)

Mass Effect: Universe

This is fiction and based in the universe of the popular game series Mass Effect. It follows a young alliance trooper named Jack Rhodes.

This is a little thing I wrote a couple of years back.

Entry One:

Hello my name is Jack Rhodes… I am kind of new to all this military diaries, but my commander suggest that we do these so that we don’t lose yourself and its their to remind you of who you are …but personally I just think he doesn’t want us to keep talking to him cause he is one annoying son of a bitch, he hates us all, I will quote him ‘you are all faceless drones in a game of chess I am playing” well I tell you right now I am shit at chess.

I have a list of questions I have to answer in these things… It says its for morale but again I think it’s here just to piss me off or just say why you joined the alliance and more bullshit like that.

So lets start things off… Well you know my name I was born on May 7th 2167 I was orphaned at an early age my father fought in the first contact war and died by a hand of a Turian, he was part of the N7 operation that invaded Turian invested Shanxi he was partnered with his friend Jack Harper on Shanxi and died in the temple Palaven, I know this because all I had left from my father was his dog tags accompanied with a letter telling me this information.

Then my mother was a fantastic scientist… people all around the galaxies would come to her to look at things form every corner of the galaxy, she was invited to go to mission with some marines to Akuse but she never came back, a man from the alliance came to me and told me that they got wiped out by a thresher maw… that is one horrible way to go.

The alliance took me in and looked after me and trained me up until I was old enough to join, I can remember I did not want to be here the military, it has taken both my mother and father I did not want it to take me.

I remember when I changed my view on everything, I was 16 not to long in fact, a disaster happen on Eden Prime the people there died form something… I wasn’t really sure of what it was but I saw the reports in which I had to break into the office of my commander to hack into the computer, come on what kind of password is ALLIANCE12345, I saw that a man named Shepard a crew man of the Normandy went there and witnessed and survived whatever was down there then two words that stood out at me form the report was Reaper and Protheans, to me they were legends and story’s my mother use to tell me about in bed, yes I know they are not normal stories for a child I loved them, that was when I decided that I was needed at help defend Earth…in case they were real.

Okay! it is still rumours that Spider-Man might still join the MCU! yet I have a plan on how to include a Spider-Man (Sometimes I think to myself…I think about this stuff way to much!)

As you just read, I said a Spider-Man not Peter Parker! I have nothing against Peter or Andrew Garfield, I think he is a great choice for Spider-man (just not that in a good film)

To suit this MCU, If (still a big IF mind!) Marvel get the Spider-man rights back or just get a three deal film or something! they should have the Miles Morales version the the web slinger, as I said in my last post! (Go and read it! believe me it’s a good read!)

With Miles, they can introduce Spider-man without having the questions: Where was he in avengers and the Marvel events? here is where I explain how they can introduce him to the MCU!

First we start by introducing Miles’s parents through a flashback, his father a S.H.I.E.L.D scientist and then his mother (which she can also be working for S.H.I.E.L.D) in New York.

Miles gets picked up from school by his mother where they go to the father who is finishing up work, while they are going to the father the alien invasion of New York happens, which is the events of Avengers, this would explain why we wasn’t helping out the Avengers because he did not have his powers yet!

The attack is happening, everything is mayhem and chaos! Miles is with his mother trying to get to safety, they find some where to hide until someone comes to rescue them and the other group of people they found shelter with.

To be Spider-man a family member has to die! it is the law! this part of the story is were this would happen Miles mother, who could be a S.H.I.E.L.D agent or not? sacrifices her self to insure the safety of her son and the group of people. This can be done through her fighting off the Chatiri ( Aw that is so spelt wrong!) or stopping rubble falling on them.

Through this the group are safe on Miles is devastated! they are safe and the Avengers are victorious! once time is passed and New York is rebuilding and so is Miles. Miles is getting use to life in a new school and life with him and his father.

This is where I would introduce Miles uncle! he is shady and a criminal but he loves his family, he is there to help his brother rise Miles after the death of his wife.

After the alien invasion of New York, S.H.I.E.L.D are looking into new ways to defend Earth from alien threats, this is done by inventing new weapons, this would introduce Miles’s father working on the animal genetics,that would give Miles his spider powers! unknown to Miles’s father Hydra are behind these experiments, With this they could link it the the TV show agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, where they can have the head of Hydra (Hydra replacing Oscorp in this universe) talking to Miles’s father or having a Captain America big bad discussing progress.

Once this is introduced the story Miles’s father is spending to much time at his work, this leaves Miles spending a lot of time with his uncle (This time period is when school is out for the summer). This leads up to his uncle and father getting into an argument about Miles, with his uncle explaining he needs his father and so on. This argument gives the uncle information of a valuable item at the lab ( this could be the metal that is used to build Caps shield or even another plot device or Easter egg, I will let you decide that one!)

The uncle breaks into the lab (by using his brothers passes) to get this item but obviously something goes wrong! stuff break or he gets into a tussle that breaks stuff or something like that! while this is happening an escaped spider (see we are getting to the spider bit now!) makes his/her way into the uncles bag, unknown to the uncle he picks up the item and the bag and leaves.

With Miles’s father is at work getting blamed for the break in, Miles is spending more time with his uncle, when his uncle leaves the room to get a food for the both of them Miles noses around, at this point the spider comes out of the bag and feels threatened, this leads to the “radioactive” spider biting Miles on the hand!

This obviously this hurts Miles, the spider falls and runs off never to be seen again (maybe?) Miles start to have a fit because of the bite, his uncle comes back into the room.

Next thing we know is that Miles wakes up in the hospital to his uncle and father arguing, they tell him everything is fine and he is in good health.

Time passes Miles’s father got fired after being blamed for the robbery and Miles starts to notice something is off and he is feeling weird, in school his powers start to reveal their self ( just like the Sam Remi’s film).

News breaks that Hydra has taken over S.H,I.E.L.D, this leads to the events of Captain America 2. This leads to Hydra coming after Miles’s father as he knows secrets and has no loyalty to Hydra. This makes Miles use his powers to defend his father and uncle (without them knowing of course).

Next up is what happens in Age of Ultron! as I don’t know what happens i am just going to say that after the event Miles declares that he will not let what happened to him ( him losing his mother in a super hero event) happen to anyone else and decides to use his power for the greater good and start to protect New York as a masked vigilante named Spider-man! (He hides his identity to protect his family and to get Hydra away from him)

This is what I think should happen IF Marvel get Spidey back!

Hey Marvel you going to give a job yet!!??

Let me know what you think and thanks for reading and please share to friends or some random guy on the street!

Recently I made a Tweet (By the way I am worth the follow) about True Detective and who I thought should be cast in season three. I had great feedback on my suggestions.

Karl Urban and Sam Rockwell! I thought these two mixed with the grit of the True Detective world would be a really good match. There could be many options to play with these actors, Urban could be a family man with a dark side? or Rockwell could play anything because he can actually play anything! (Because he is just a great actor).

This got me thinking about other casting choices I would pick for films. One that got me really excited is the rumour going around that Marvel wants to bring in Spider-man into the MCU. Even though I like Andrew Garfield as Spider-man it just wouldn’t make sense that his Spider-man fits into the Marvel universe? so a theory circling the internet recently is that IF! (that is a big if) Spider-man joins the Avengers line up it would be the Miles Morales incarnation of the web slinger.

As you can see this version of spider man is different, this rumour got me thinking who would be good to play Miles, I thought this over in a geek way and because of my loyalty to Community I couldn’t look past Donald Glover

To be honest with you! I think this would be a great casting choice! (defiantly over Jaden Smith!) this is were Glover could flex his acting muscles, this will also let him keep his quirky humour that will suit the spider man character!

I know I properly thinking way to much about this kind of thing! but hey! it’s fun too speculate right? like everyone is talking about who should play Doctor Strange since Joaquin Phoenix negotiations are over.

Personally I would just love to see Benedict Cumberbatch in the Marvel universe playing the sorcerer supreme but this rumour has died down lately, with this Ethan Hawke has been mentioned and I totally agree, everything I have seen him in, he has but in a good performance.

With all the rumours about who is going to be part of the Marvel Universe, I decided to think of the actors and to play these parts

First one would be Captain Marvel she has been mentioned recently, I then put two and two together and got Sarah Michelle Gellar, Since Joss Whedon is all over the MCU and he likes to use people he knows… I thought Sarah Michelle Gellar could be Captain Marvel.

Now this is just my thoughts! obviously this is not true and are many issues to think of is SMG to old to play captain marvel? would they want to do with someone younger? this all depends on the people that get paid to make these decisions. If they do want to go with a younger actress then my I suggest a kick ass Emily Blunt??

With other mentions of Wonder Man (Maybe he is the one that could die, cause he does a lot) I know it is an easy choice to cast Sean Bean to be cast as wonder man cause he also died a lot! but I think again based the ages of the character Clive Owen could be a decent choice to play Wonder man?

Iron Fist is not the first super hero to pop in your head when it comes to marvel but he apparently he is going to be in the Netfilx gang with Daredevil and Luke Cage, maybe the popular Charlie Hunnam could take a shot at playing a super hero as his work on TV has been great, or maybe he is becoming to big to play this type of hero? who knows?

Next I am going to talk about one of my new favourite super heroes…Black Panther! at first I turned to one of favourite actors to play him and that would be Idris Elba because he already can do and African accent due to his work on Mandela, I highly doubt this would happen though to my disappoint. So I was thinking who can hold a film and do a great job at it? Chiwetel Ejiofor that’s who! his work on 12 years a slave has great!, this had lead me to think he can do a great job at playing the king Wakanda!

Let me know what you think who should who and if you agree, Thanks for reading!

During my 25 years on this planet, I have been called many things, Geek, Nerd on one occasion Poindexer and many other very rude names…but now I am know as one of the biggest players in the collector’s world.

Milton is standing at a cabinet, Milton is arranging vintage superhero figures. The shop bell rings.

Thank you sooo much Milton you’re the best! I will be back soon, goodbye

Doreen leaves the shop, Milton stares at Doreen leaving.

Milton (VO)

If only I could get the confidence to ask her to a dungeons and dragons night! … even I did I could not take the rejection… it will be like firefly all over again!

Wilbur (OS)

Milton?

Milton continues to stare blankly at the door.

Wilbur (OS)

Milton?

Milton turns to look at Wilbur, Milton jumps in surprise.

Milton

You scared me Wilbur

Wilbur

Sorry

Milton

How long you been here?

Wilbur

Since twelve

Milton looks at his watch.

Milton

You been here for three hours?

Wilbur

You know I like your comics

Milton

Yeah… without you I will be out of business.

Wilbur

That would be a huge loss, where would I get my comics?

Milton

Online? Other shops?

Wilbur

That wouldn’t satisfy me

Milton

(Confused)

Ok?

Wilbur

I will take these please.

Wilbur places comics on the counter. Milton scans the comics.

Wilbur

You seen what’s happening on twitter?

Milton

No I haven’t had a chance to check my twitter today, what is happening?

Wilbur

Dragon Force have announced that they lost the ‘Thy Dragon’

Milton drops the comics in shock.

Wilbur

Arggh you dropped first editions!

Milton

(Curious)

‘Thy Dragon’? are you sure?

Wilbur

(Panic)

Pick them up! Pick them up!

Milton

‘Thy Dragon’!

Wilbur

Pick up the darn comics!

Milton picks up the comics, Milton places them on the counter.

Milton

Sorry! … can you tell me now?

Wilbur

Sorry for cursing…‘Thy Dragon’ is lost.

Milton

That’s not possible

Wilbur

According to Twitter a mysterious collector has it and he is willing to trade it.

Milton

(Overly Dramatic)

He holds the key to war!

Wilbur

(Confused)

What?

Milton

Think about it?… everyone loves Dragon Force!

Wilbur

What’s ‘Thy Dragon’ got to do anything?

Milton

I thought it was legend… a myth made by producers to get fans excited and scared… they only ever made one dragon out of all the series… one to rule them all.

Wilbur

I am guessing that is bad?

Milton

(Overly Dramatic)

Ow it’s bad! This mysterious collector is going to cause havoc and misery among our people!

Wilbur

How come?

Milton

(Overly Dramatic)

All the gangs are going to want ‘Thy Dragon’… by any means.

Wilbur

That is horrible there will be bloodshed

Milton

(Overly Dramatic)

Some bruises and scrams will be dealt yes, we have to stop this!

Wilbur

Can we wait till tomorrow… my mother is cooking me food and she won’t leave me eat it in the basement any more

Milton

Ok… that’s fair enough.

INT. MILTON’S FLAT.NIGHT

Milton is at a table packing a bag. On the table is a board with dice along with cards and supplies. Milton picks up his mobile, Milton dials a number.

Milton

(Overly Dramatic)

Mother… I won’t be calling for a while…because I am going on a unexpected journey… it should take about three hours, not six or even twelve … and if it is extended it may be over fifth teen… yes it may be dangerous… what am I doing? Something really important!… I am going to find ‘Thy Dragon’ and stop chaos… arggh it’s something silly mother… it’s serious…before I go…………… I love you mother.

I found filming Brecon Jazz a great experience personally and professionally, this was the first time I have attended this event but I have heard great things about the past ones that I was really excited to attend and work there.

Brecon is a lovely little place, add this with festival where the weird and wonderful people come out of their holes to add a special twist to Brecon (one which was a man dressed as a nun driving around with a portable piano acting really strange and playing the Trainspotting song at people drinking which was hilarious)

Our first mission of Brecon was to film Burt Bacharach (since he was the only one preforming on Thursday), if you are around my age? don’t worry I haven’t heard of either but you defiantly heard the songs he penned which include Raindrops and What’s new pussy cat and many more, we tested the cameras on the sound check which we ironed out some problems then came the main event.

I had a great view of the whole stage from my stripper podium (here I would spend most of my time in Brecon) Burt Bacharach came out looking like Yoda form empire accompanied by three back up singers, which did most of the singing but they all were very good and they got the crowd going with the classics and in fairness it was a really enjoyable hour half.

Friday rolled around and this time it was a Jazz band thing? called Loose Tubes the leader who’s name was Django led his men to the stage to my surprise there was about thirty of them on stage at once, now this was chaos to film because we was trying to work out who is playing what and where they were, after the first twenty minutes we had were on a roll getting into the swing of things then right at the end they came off stage and into the audience. To be honest Loose Tubes wasn’t my musical cup of tea but I could see that the audience was really into it and getting into mood especially when they got into the crowd.

Saturday was a totally different the stalls were out in force with welsh cakes galore (along with many great food!) this day was really heavy on filming this gave a chance to go out with a Z1 and film the streets which included walking slinkies, tap dancing turkeys, angels riding about on thing under his dress (Yeah I know kinda weird but a lot of fun!) After the fun of the streets I teamed up with another camera man to rush place to place in Brecon (The festival was across six locations which where a tent in a parking lot, a beautiful cathedral, market hall, guild hall, Christ college and then Brecon theatre)

After the run around we got to the main event, which was Laura Mvula, who I have heard of and liked two of her songs and the she did with tinie tempah! she did her whole set in sound check which we again tested the cameras out. The time came for her to preform but before her she had a support act who was really good and she got a packed market hall warmed up for Laura. She came out to a huge applause, her set seem to fly by, her songs went down well and she got everyone up and moving which was great for the cameras, this wrapped Saturday up in a nice bundle as I really enjoyed her and her music( she is second in my list of performers from the festival)

Sunday started with a down pour of rain but this did not set the tone of the day, Sunday was like Saturday in that we had to run around place to place filming bits of the artists but during the rushing I came across The Remi Harris gypsy jazz project at guild hall which was amazing! they sounded beautiful for the instrumental then they invited this women out to sing and her voice mixed with the music was just prefect for the ears, I wished I could of stayed for the whole thing but duty called and we had to run off leaving the number on on my list of performers.

Gregory Porter was the closing act of Brecon Jazz, everything was set up, the stage looked nice, the show started but I was distracted by Gregory’s snood thing around his head and that led me thinking ‘Why?’ (If you get a chance just look him up and see it’s weird) but this didn’t distract me for long because his music did instead, he had a great voice and good songs and it was quite easy to film (well compared to Loose Tubes it was and because of this he is third in my list).

The show finished with a standing applause which was well deserved, the audience left with smiles on their faces and I left with a great experience under my belt, I worked with great people and met lovely people on my journeys.

Milton and Wilbur enter the motel room, the room has two single beds, Wilbur collapses onto the bed.

Wilbur

This is so comfy, Milton you should try it

Milton collapses onto the bed.

Wilbur

What you think?

Milton

It’s the nicest place I have rested for the last couple of days.

Milton and Wilbur lay on the beds in silence for a minute, with a faint shower noise for the other room.

Milton

Thin walls mind

Wilbur and Milton lay there in silence again, still with the shower noise faint in the background, a loud scream is heard from the other room, the Pyscho screeching noise is played, Milton jumps.

Milton

What the hell is that?

Wilbur

Don’t worry it was just my phone

Milton lays back down.

Milton

You scared me then Wilbur

Wilbur

Sorry… it was just my mother checking on me

Wilbur is playing with his phone and Milton is laying in silence again with the same shower noise faint in the background. there is a knock on the door.

Milton

Wonder who that is

Wilbur

I don’t know… I will answer it.

Wilbur gets up off the bed and walks towards the door, Wilbur opens the door. The door opening reveals Barry standing in the corridor, Barry is a bit wet and his holding a plastic bag with a little bit of red liquid on the bag.

Wilbur

Hey Barry, you been swimming?

Barry

Hey guys, aw no I just a little problem, it’s taken care of now

Wilbur

That’s good then

Barry

I notice that your clothes looked a bit weary, so I got these for you to

Barry hands Wilbur the plastic bag.

Wilbur

What’s this?

Barry

This is clothes that some guests left here before

Wilbur looks around in the bag.

Wilbur

What if they come back for them?

Barry

Don’t worry they won’t be coming back for them

Wilbur

Ok?

Barry

There are new sets for the both of you

Milton (OS)

Thank you Barry

Wilbur

Yeah thanks Barry

Barry

No worries guys, I have to leave I have to get rid of some rubbish form the motel, so if you see me carrying something to the car that’s quite big, its rubbish, not anything else that is really suspicious…at all

During the last couple of months I have experienced the best story telling in years! it didn’t come through TV or Netflix or even a movie but through a video game!

I think video games have grown in quality in the last years especially with the plots (also with graphics etc) but this wasn’t some big huge block buster game like Call of duty but from an arcade game that comes in episodes (like a TV series but every month).

Telltale are the brilliant company that provided me with this amazing experience through a video game (Something that I have hardly experienced before with games, apart of the fantastic RPG games you get to play like Dragon age and Mass effect series) This video game is not like the others I have played it felt to me more like an interactive short film (in a way?) that really got me into the stories.

Telltale have not just made just a one-off, it all started with the The Walking Dead (which has nothing to do with the TV programme) which had a comic book style feel to it, what made this really entertaining was the fact that you could make your own choices, which really made you engage with the characters that you encounter (I know this is not ground breaking picking what you say but these are your choices that do actually do make a difference) with making your choices other characters will react different to you and remember past events which could make someone live or day.

At the heart of this story is the dynamic duo that is Lee and Clementine one is convict and the other an orphan they are what keeps each other going during this zombie infected wasteland of Macon (and other locations). Lee and Clem is what makes this game what it is (including great supporting characters by the way) they have this great father daughter relationship that moves the story onwards in strides, What Telltale did well was that it was about the human aspect and not all about zombies and just killing them (yes! you do kill many in different and cool ways but that’s not the point) I am not going to spoil anything because I don’t want to take away anything and just want you to play this game because the ending made me cry… yes cry because it was one hell of an ending! (still not spoiling it!)

After that… what could Telltale do next to fellow this triumph? they bring out The Wolf Among Us (which is based of the comics Fables) this time you are the big bad wolf from the fairy tales, believe me this is nothing like the fairy tales you knew, basically the Fables have been forced out of their homeland and ended up in a section of New York called Fable Town here all the fables live (not happily ever after neither, not giving to much away again because it is just the best).

This is where you come in as the big bad wolf, named Bigby, you are the sheriff of Fable Town and you keep things in order because you are the big bad wolf of course! as you had a little taste of what the game is about the story here is just as good or even better than the walking dead (in my opinion) this is the same game play as the walking dead but yet feels so different to its predecessor, the comic book animation is still there but it feels more film noir and darker (considering it is a crime/mystery)

The character you play Bigby it feels you have more control of him and can mould him the way you want, you can go with him trying to reinvent himself as a changed man or you can give in to the wolf inside, which makes great options for the player, I have recently finished the game and I think this could be worthy of a TV series and not just worthy but it would make a great show that could be up there!

What is next for Telltale? well they are on their last episode of the walking season 2 which is living one to the first series in many different and wonderful ways, yet the most exciting thing for me is that they are going to do the epic Game Of Thrones! which could have the potential to be better than the walking and the wolf among us! (hopefully it will be). Not forgetting they are making tales from the borderlands which could be really good just hope it doesn’t get over shadowed by Game Of Thrones.

From this you would tell that I am a huge community fan, for people who don’t know what community is, well it has to be one of the best comedies around but it got cancelled, I know that doesn’t sound convincing but it wasn’t cancelled because it was bad or a rubbish show it was cancelled because of viewing figures (like everything in america) I don’t know why it wasn’t get the viewing figures (I know it doesn’t sound convincing still but believe me it is really good) maybe effort was put into more “reliable” comedies, by effort what I mean is promoting and adverts, even the cast tried really hard via twitter to promote the show.

lucky for yahoo has now picked up community form NBC to stream on the internet (which is great because the internet is a whole new playing field and less curl than TV) this is obviously great news for their loyal fans (and hopefully for future fans that could get into the show)

What makes community stand out form the other “generic” american comedies is that it is much more thoughtful and is head and shoulders smarter than the others (Some could say “ow but big bang is clever because they are scientist… that’s not what I meant…shut up)

What I do mean they first the dialogue and jokes are more original then the millionth dick joke in two and a half men or the fat jokes in mike and molly (which is still going strong…well I am not sure about mike and molly but who cares) Community use of meta humour is the best I have seen used in a comedy series!

This is also due to the great

Community strength is the way they do visual comedy better than the others around (also including you big bang) they find a way to change up something you seen a million times and this is what makes this stand out (with help of abed that helps explain it along the way as a helper of the viewer) also stories behind the characters the best example is when abed (a character in the show) plays out his own story in the background when he befriends a pregnant women then through the episode you see the story playout then towards the end of the episode he ends up delivering the baby all in the background of the story, another example that I totally missed at first and even the second time is again meta humour but this is through the whole series of community it occurs when one of characters says beetlejuice for the third time in series as it is muttered an extra wearing a beetlejuice outfit casually walks past.

This is also helped by the great writing of the show especially Dan Harmon but the execution of his words by the brilliantly cast actors who are Joe Mchale as Jeff, Allison Brie as Annie, Danni Pudi as the brilliant abed, Donald Glover (no relation to Danny) as Troy (who has one of the best bromances ever caught on camera with abed) Gillan Jacobs as Britta, Yvette Nicole Brown as the motherly Shirley and then Chavy Chase as Pierce but also look out for the supporting cast to steal the show like the oscar winning Jim Rash and the brilliant Ken Jong.

There is brilliant video on visual comedy that is a must much on vimeo (because it is on vimeo you can tell someone took the effort to actually make this) here is the link https://vimeo.com/96558506

Community also has the balls to experiment maybe this was because they where on the verge of being cancelled that they just said F*** they hate us anyway lets do it, this is where community blossomed because (this is a great list)

Zombie holloween episode

Christmas clay animation

A musical episode

A episode all in a video game (that is really awesome)

Puppets

floor lava

ass crack bandit/the law and order meta episode

six different timelines

the emperor chang episodes

And the best of all… the best of all the paint ball episode

I am also most likely forgetting some but these are the ones that I have enjoyed the most and now I can now we can look forward to more form this crazy world.